CROSTATAS
558 Bishop Rd., Highland Hts.
440.449.7800
As dictated by pizza code, Anthony Pilla uses only imported San
Marzano tomatoes, which ripen on the volcanic slopes of Mount Vesuvius.
Because it would be a shame to cook away the bright, summery freshness
of these tomatoes, Pilla simply stems and squeezes the fruits by hand
before combining them with some salt and Sicilian oregano. The cheeses
that top Crostatas’ pies are only those naturally occurring in Italy:
mozzarella di bufala, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Grana Padano. Same goes for
toppings.
The best pizza on Crostatas’ menu is the Margherita ($14.50). It is
the perfect marriage of crust, tomato, mozzarella, basil and extra
virgin olive oil. Purists will doubtless seek out the marinara ($9.75),
minimally topped with sauce, herbs and olive oil. Pizzas like the
Classico ($14.75), with 24-hour roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions
and sautéed mushrooms, while tasty, tend to obscure the art
beneath.
LIQUID PLANET
Westlake and Cleveland Heights
Smoothies are considered by some an ideal breakfast food. Others
gulp them down for an afternoon pick-me-up in place of coffee. Both
groups are well served by the selection available here. There are more
than 40 concoctions utilizing some combination of fruits, veggies,
non-fat frozen yogurt, soy milk and the occasional Oreo cookie. Toss in
another dozen “boosts” and supplements, and that figure increases
exponentially. Recovering from a rager? Take a swig of the Hangover
($5.95), which combines fresh fruit and orange juice with gingko and
ginseng, and feel the pain melt away.
Liquid Planet may have made a name for itself in the smoothie
department, but the menu flies well beyond the orbit of its liquid
assets. A brightly colored wall menu covers half the room, with
sections devoted to soups, salads, pita sandwiches and rice bowls (My
advice: grab a take-out menu and a seat, and decide in peace.)
DARNA
13114 Shaker Square, Cleveland
216.862.2910, darna-cleveland.com
The lounge area, assembled around a gas-log fireplace, is an ideal
roost for friends to meet up over a glass of wine and a plate of hummus
($8). Darna may serve one of the best renditions in town, no doubt
owing to the warm, airy, melt-in-your-mouth pita wedges that accompany
it. Scattered atop the smooth chick-pea puree are olives, French feta,
preserved lemon and olive oil, making each bite different from the
last.
Preserved lemon, made by pickling the citrus whole or in part, is
the secret ingredient to many Moroccan dishes. The result is an
intensely lemony, but not sour, flavor that offers an unexpected boost
to salads, soups and stews. It livens up a thick and satisfying
split-pea soup ($7), pairing beautifully with the starter’s faint
fennel notes. And it brightens an already vivid Moroccan salad ($8), a
veritable rainbow of diced tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and
feta.
ERIE ISLAND COFFEE CO.
East 4th St., Cleveland
216.394.0093, erieislandcoffee.com
In addition to the excellent brewed coffee ($1.60-$2) and espresso
drinks ($1.85-$3.90), Erie Island offers smoothies ($3.80) made with
real fruit. Named after the Kelleys Island phenomenon, the Glacial
Grooves parfait ($4.70) alternates strata of smoothie and custard
before topping it with icy Italian granita. There is also a concise
menu of soups, salads and sandwiches that continues to improve over
time. Soups are made in house, salads are assembled daily from seasonal
ingredients and sandwiches are made to order. In the coming weeks, the
grab-and-go cooler will be augmented with prepared foods that extend
beyond the salads and hummus-and-veggie options presently
available.
The sandwiches, called “crushes,” are built atop inside-out bagels
and heated on a panini press. The lunch selections ($5.95) include the
Club Crush, filled with smoked turkey, honey ham, pepperoni, banana
peppers and cheese. A vegetarian option skips the meat in favor of
cheese, roasted mushrooms, tomato and red-pepper pesto.
MI PUEBLO
12207 Lorain Ave. & 11611 Euclid Ave.
216.671.6661, mipueblorestaurantsgrocery.com
For those who prefer more substantial Mexican entrées, the
taqueria more than provides. In the chile rellenos ($12.95), a pair of
poblano peppers are stuffed with Chihuahua cheese, topped with mild red
sauce and served with seasoned rice and refried beans. Breakfast fans
are always looking for places that serve all day. Mi Pueblo dishes up
huevos rancheros ($5.95), plus a half-dozen other egg-based items
around the clock.
FLYING CRANES
13002 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland
216.795.1033
A thick wedge of mushroom and cheese quiche ($7.50) is on hand for
those who prefer something less exotic. The moist and filling savory
pie is paired with salad and fruit. Diners who come for a lazy Sunday
brunch can build a meal of soup, toast, fruit and coffee around an
omelet, quiche or waffle for a flat fee of $10.
TREEHUGGER’S CAFÉ
1330 Bagley Rd., Berea
440.342.4901, treehuggerscafe.com
In the Tree Hugger’s salad ($6.95), impeccably fresh field greens
are dotted with sweet dried fruit, chopped mushrooms and creamy goat
cheese. Large enough to sate a mature giraffe, the bountiful salad is
tossed in a seductive honey-lemon vinaigrette.
Ample enough for a small African village, the house-made hummus
platter ($8.95) is stacked high with warm pita, bright veggies and a
mountain of fluffy, addictive hummus. Sidestep the thick discs of raw
zucchini and squash in favor of the baby carrots and red bell pepper.
The kitchen makes it easy to go halfsies on dishes, splitting salads,
sandwiches, even a fabulous Asian carrot soup ($5.95) with sliced
almonds into separate servings.
As one might guess, Treehugger’s is a vegetarian diner’s best
friend. More than half the menu items are meat-free, and many of those
are easily upgraded to full-on vegan. Conversely, many of the
vegetarian items can be made omnivore-friendly by the addition of
grilled organic chicken ($2.95).
Tasting like a cross between falafel and a bowl of chili, the
black-bean burger ($8.95) is a dense and filling sandwich that arrives
bearing a fair amount of spice. Served on a soft knotted roll with
greens, onions and sprouts, the “meaty” patty is delicious but a tad
dry. If there was any sauce on the sandwich, it escaped our notice.
This article appears in Nov 11-17, 2009.
Hooray for an entire post about vegetarian options!